Efficient and effective planning is essential for communities to thrive.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been meeting with councils across Wales to better understand how to make the planning process simpler and more effective for everyone.
These visits are helping us identify challenges, share best practices and work together towards improving pre-application advice services across Wales.
Learning from Cyngor Gwynedd
Our journey began with a visit to Cyngor Gwynedd, where we spent time learning about their pre-application processes and challenges.
This visit gave us an opportunity to:
- better understand the planning journey from their perspective
- identify challenges regularly faced by planning teams and applicants
- explore opportunities to improve systems and guidance
We’re incredibly grateful for the openness and collaboration shown by Cyngor Gwynedd. It’s been a pleasure to learn from their experiences, and we’re excited to work together on the next steps to create a more efficient system for householders and planning professionals.
Partnering with the Vale of Glamorgan Council
Next, we visited the Vale of Glamorgan Council, another partner in this journey.
During our discussions with planning staff and managers, we were able to:
- gain insights into their pre-application advice process
- learn about the most frequent queries they receive
- explore ways to simplify the process for applicants and council staff
These conversations highlighted the commitment of their planning team in delivering excellent support while navigating the challenges of a complex system.
Exploring pre-application processes with Cardiff Council
We also spoke with Cardiff Council, where we delved deeper into how their planning team handles pre-application requests.
During the visit, we explored:
- how requests are registered, validated and processed
- the common questions they receive
- the challenges they face in providing timely advice
Hearing about their experiences helped us see the planning process from both technical and human perspectives. It was clear how much effort goes into supporting applicants, and we’re grateful for their insights and openness.
What’s next?
These visits have given us a clearer picture of the planning journey in Wales. By working with councils and listening to their experiences, we’re laying the groundwork for a system that’s easier to navigate for applicants and more efficient for planning teams.
Get involved
We’re looking forward to continuing these conversations and sharing updates on the progress we’re making. To find out more about what we’re doing and to receive specific updates on the project, visit our project page.
We are also keen to speak to individuals who have either applied for planning permission or used the pre-application advice service in Wales over the past year.
If you would like to talk to our user research team, please complete our sign up form.
If you are selected to take part, you will receive a £20 shopping voucher as a token of our appreciation.
Together, we can build a planning process that supports our communities, simplifies the journey for householders and helps professionals deliver the best possible service.
